<p>The following table summarises the headcount of National Health Service dentists per 100 thousand population including adults and children, which are not available separately.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Headcount of NHS dentists per 100k population in Lincolnshire</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>39.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>41.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/20</p></td><td><p>42.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/21</p></td><td><p>38.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/22</p></td><td><p>39.3</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>We are taking measures to increase access to NHS dentistry. We are working with Health Education England and NHS England to understand how Centres for Dental Development could be delivered to improve access in areas where there is currently a shortage in provision.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’ which sets out how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to NHS dental care, including in Lincolnshire, whilst making the NHS dental contract more attractive to dental practices. These changes have been implemented, including through regulations that came into effect on 25 November 2022. NHS England is holding further discussions with the British Dental Association and other stakeholders for additional reforms of the NHS Dental System planned to take place this year.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England is responsible for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population. Many of the dentistry commissioning functions undertaken by NHS England will transfer to integrated care boards from April 2023, supported by an Assurance Framework to provide assurances on commissioning.</p>